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Choosing your perfect trip type.We offer just about every type of adventure imaginable. Explore with other like minded travellers on our organised group trips, alternatively try a private departure or talk to our tailormade team if you want more flexibility.

Explore the world with your family.Our Explore family adventure holidays are designed for families looking for a fun and memorable holiday, allowing you to explore exotic and unique destinations, with all of the logistics taken care of.

The information below is intended to assist you as you consider your travel options with Explore. In addition to the detailed itinerary each trip has been supported with some useful information to provide you with an overview of your accommodation & meals, all things money, passports, visas, vaccinations, insurance, clothing, personal equipment and much more to help you with your travel preparations.

Machu Picchu and Titicaca + Amazon Extension

Trip notes

Each departure date has its own dedicated trip note, detailing all you need to know about that trip. Whether you've already booked, or weighing up your options, please choose carefully the relevant itinerary for you.

We have the following different versions of the Machu Picchu and Titicaca + Amazon Extension trip available at present.

Booking a Single Room

All of our group tours are planned and operated on a twin-share basis, meaning that the standard cost is based either on individual travellers sharing accommodation with another group member of the same sex, or people who book together sharing accommodation.

Please refer to the tour notes where the single room option availability is detailed on a night by night basis for this tour, and the price for the available nights is detailed on the dates & prices tab by departure date.

For Self-Guided trips the Single Room supplement offers the option of a single room each and is charged per person. The Single Room supplement also applies to the third person in a party of three that will be accommodated in a single room.

Accommodation Notes

Nape Lodge has been built just inland from the banks of the Tambopata River, on land granted to the Amazon community of Infierno nearly forty years ago. This land is adjacent to the then newly formed Tambopata National Reserve. Many of the community's families are descendants of the Ese Ejas, historically the dominant group of the region. Most live in the small town of Infierno about one hour's drive from Puerto Maldonado, but others live more remotely. The community are mainly farmers, but some now also work in local tourism.

Over twenty years ago the community set 3,000 hectares of their land, primary forest, aside and banned all hunting, logging and farming. In partnership with a Peruvian Ecotourism company they opened an eco-lodge which they still co-run. Money generated by this partnership has helped build a secondary school for the community, provided support for the elderly and assisted students with the costs of further education. More recently the community decided to use their many years of experience of co-managing a lodge to build their own. Nape Lodge welcomed its first guests at the end of 2015.

The guest accommodation at Nape Lodge, although simple, is built to a high standard. The communal area and dining room is an impressive wooden structure with a high roof, thatched in traditional style with palm fronds. The 16 rooms are a short walk from here and are also built in local wood, blending in with the surrounding forest. They are all furnished with crafted wooden furniture and have en suite bathrooms equipped with a cold (lukewarm) water shower, basin with running water and flushing toilet. There is also a safety box for storing valuables and food. The design of the buildings allows the rooms to be naturally ventilated - the rooms are almost a metre off the ground and have high unsealed roofs that encourage air-circulation. Copying the successful style of their partners the community have also designed their rooms to maximise the feeling of being in the forest, and the fourth side of the room looking out to the forest is open. Good mosquito nets cover the beds (which are well off the floor). Electricity is provided by a generator twice a day so room lights can be used, batteries charged, etc. but a strong torch is also required.

Meals are all included during your stay and combine delicious local produce with culinary skill - One of the lodge's cooks is a consultant for a well-known Lima restaurant. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are served in the communal area and depending on the number of guests meals are either served at the table or self-serve style. Boiled, filtered drinking water is also available at all times, as is tea and coffee during the day. Fruit juices are provided with breakfast, and beers and soft drinks are also available to buy.

The lodge guides all have a recognised national guiding qualification and most are from the local area. During your stay they will help you explore the primary forest around the lodge, identify animals and plants, and learn about the local way of life. If available the community shaman will also tell you, through a translator, about the preparation of local medicines from jungle plants, and how the community used to hunt.

Keep your eyes open as you travel around by boat or walk through the forest as there is abundant wildlife in the area around the lodge. Animals often seen include: different types of monkeys (squirrel, red howler, brown capuchin, saddle backed tamarins, dusky titi), parrots and macaws (including scarlet macaws), hoatzin birds, caiman, giant river otters, agouti and different types of frogs, insects and butterflies.

You will need some extra money to cover meals and drinks not included in the trip price, any optional sightseeing, souvenirs and
items of a personal nature such as laundry.

Food

The costs for meals may vary depending upon location, type of restaurant and number of courses eaten and so the prices given are an average guide.Local restaurants located off the beaten track may be less expensive, whereas an upmarket restaurant located in the centre of a major city may charge more.

Bolivia

Lunch £:
5.00

Dinner £:
8.00

Peru

Lunch £:
3.00 - 5.00

Dinner £:
6.00 - 8.00

Drink

The prices for drinks can vary greatly depending upon location and the prices detailed below are an average guide. In general you would expect that drinks purchased in a supermarket or local bar to be less expensive, whilst drinks in an upmarket bar or restaurant may be more expensive.

Bolivia

Bottle of Beer £:
1.47

Water £:
0.60

Peru

Bottle of Beer £:
2.00 - 4.00

Water £:
1.00

Tipping - Tour Leader

At your discretion you might also consider tipping your Tour Leader in appreciation of the efficiency and service you receive.

Optional Excursions

Puno - Uros Islands US$ 30;
Andean Explorer train to Cusco GBP£115 - must be paid at time of booking. If you change your passport
between your time of booking and prior to travel please take your original passport with you to avoid being fined. The train will no longer be running from 1st May 2017

Aguas Calientes - Hot springs US$ 4; Huayna Picchu - £45; Machu Picchu Mountain £40 (both including transport) - Subject to availability - these must be pre-paid at time of booking. If you change your passport between your time of booking and prior to travel please take your original passport with you to avoid being fined.
Day Trek on Inca trail from Km 104 - £70 - must be paid at time of booking. Please see Inca Pass notes below

Notes for Inca pass -
1. In order to regulate the number of people walking on the Inca Trail it is necessary to buy an Inca Trail Pass specific to the days that
you wish to travel. There are 200 passes per day for tourists, the remainder are for guides and porters.
2. If you are travelling on an Explore tour, Explore buy the necessary permit on your behalf. This is non-refundable and can't be
refunded or transferred after you have confirmed your booking.
3. Passes are sold on a 'first come first served basis' and sell out quickly, so we would urge that you book your tour well ahead of your
intended travel date. New Inca Passes are released in January of each year so ideally we would recommend that you book your tour
at least 6 months ahead and by December for the following year where possible.
4. In order to buy your pass we will need your: full name, passport number, date of birth and nationality. If you change passport
before travelling it will be necessary to provide a copy of both passports in advance of travelling and to carry a copy of your previous
passport with you.
5. The Peruvian authorities may change the regulations for the Inca Trail Pass at any time. In the event of this we will inform you as
soon as possible.

Tipping - Local Crew

Although entirely voluntary, tipping is a recognized part of life in this region of the world. Some local staff will look to members of the group for personal recognition of particular services provided. In order to make things easier for you, the Tour Leaders may organise a group's tips kitty and if this is the case, they will account for it throughout the tour.
Accordingly, you should allow US$ 35 for tipping for the Machu PIcchu and Titicaca tour.

Foreign Exchange

Bolivia

ATM Availability:
Available in Major towns. Always have some cash as back-up as they are not always reliable

Credit Card Acceptance:
Credit cards are useful and can be used in many places, but may be subject to a 10% service charge

Travellers Cheques:
Travellers Cheques can be awkward or expensive to change

Local Currency:
Boliviano.

Recommended Currency for Exchange:
Carry all your funds in US cash NOT Sterling or Travellers Cheques which are more difficult to exchange.
We recommend to take a minimum of US$400-$500 of your total spending money in cash for your tour, in mixed denominations. Notes should be in good condition otherwise they might be difficult to exchange.

Where to Exchange:
Most major towns - your Tour Leader will advise you on arrival.

Peru

ATM Availability:
Available in Major towns. Always have some cash as back-up as they are not always reliable

Credit Card Acceptance:
In major restaurants.

Travellers Cheques:
Travellers Cheques are not always easy to exchange.

Local Currency:
Nuevo Sol

Recommended Currency for Exchange:
Carry all your funds in US cash NOT Sterling or Travellers Cheques which are more difficult to exchange.
We recommend to take a minimum of US$400-$500 of your total spending money in cash for your tour, in mixed denominations. Notes should be in good condition otherwise they might be difficult to exchange.

Where to Exchange:
Most major towns - your Tour Leader will advise you on arrival.

Flight Information

You are able to book this tour on a 'land only' basis or as a ‘flight inclusive’ package. Your flight inclusive package will be fully protected by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) ATOL protection scheme.

Booking a land only package with Explore

Customers who have chosen to book on the ‘Land Only’ arrangements of our tour, please ensure that you have checked your tour specific ‘Joining Instructions’ prior to booking your own travel arrangements. Your joining instructions can be found on our website at www.explore.co.uk, in the tour specific dates and prices section.

Joining Tour Abroad

Customers booked on the ‘Land Only’ arrangements will now receive a Free Transfer, provided you arrive and depart on the tour only itinerary start and end dates. The transfers will be from the Explore designated airport or train station to the joining point of your tour, and then back from the ending point to the designated airport or train station. The exception to this rule is customers who are booked on a tour where the joining and ending point is at the designated airport or train station.

Free transfers are not available for Self-Guided, Tailormade or Tours for Churches customers.

If you are not eligible for the Free Transfer then you will need to make your own way through to the joining and ending point. On a majority of our tours Explore will be able to provide a private transfer at an additional cost. Please ask for a quote at the time of booking.

Booking a flight inclusive package with Explore

We have a good selection of flights not only from London but from many regional airports around the UK allowing us to compare fares between scheduled carriers as well as low cost and charter airlines. Our dedicated flights team will match the best flight options to your arrival and departure airport.

On our website we display a UK flight inclusive package guide price which is generally based on a London departure. To avoid paying supplements or to secure your preferred flight option, we recommend booking as early as possible, especially for peak travel dates.

Travel Insurance

It is a condition of booking with Explore that you have adequate valid travel insurance. It is your responsibility to arrange appropriate travel insurance and ensure you have read and understood the full terms and conditions of your travel insurance policy to ensure that you are covered for all activities you intend to undertake whilst on the tour, including all optional activities. Your Insurance Policy must fully cover you for medical expenses and emergency repatriation to your home country. Please ensure your policy includes medical emergency helicopter evacuation in the event of illness or injury and covers the entire duration of your holiday. If you are trekking at altitude please ensure that there is no upper altitude limit which may limit or exclude cover for your trip. Medical and repatriation insurance cover is not mandatory for UK residents who are travelling on trips within the United Kingdom.

Under 18 immigration guidance

Please note that some countries require proof of parental consent when travelling overseas with under 18s. Please check requirements with the relevant embassy or consular office well in advance of travel if this applies to your party.

Visa Information

Bolivia: Visas are not required for UK, New Zealand, Australian, and Canadian citizens. However, US citizens will require a visa.

Peru: Visas are not required for UK, New Zealand, Australian, US and Canadian citizens. Other nationalities should consult the relevant consulate.

USA (If flights transit): you will need to apply for an ESTA if you are transiting the USA as you will have to disembark and clear immigration before re-boarding for the onward flight. Citizens of the UK, New Zealand, Australia, Canada and passport holders from several EU countries can enter the United States without a visa under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) - where you apply for an ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorisation), which applies if you enter the country by sea or by air. This must be done on line - https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov no later than 72 hours prior to travel. Travellers who have not registered before their trip are likely be refused boarding. When completing an application for transit you should enter the words 'In Transit' with your final destination location in the address line. You must have an electronic passport with a digital chip containing biometric information about the passport owner. UK passports which are biometric feature a small gold symbol (camera) at the bottom of the front cover. If you have visited Iraq, Syria, Iran or Sudan in the past five years or are dual nationals of these countries, you cannot travel under the Visa Waiver Programme. Instead you will need to apply for a visa from the nearest US Embassy or Consulate. If you are unable to provide a valid visa before boarding flights to the US, or entering via another method, you may not be permitted to travel. For further information please check the US embassy website. Visa applications - http://london.usembassy.gov/niv/apply.html.

Vaccinations & Protection

Bolivia

A yellow fever certificate is not compulsory to enter Bolivia for the areas we visit. We also recommend protection against typhoid, polio, infectious hepatitis, tetanus and malaria.
Please consult your travel clinic for the latest advice on Malaria, Dengue and Zika Virus.
Please take preventative measures to avoid mosquito bites - these include mosquito repellent as well as long trousers and long sleeve shirts to cover up when necessary.
The above is not an exhaustive list. Further information regarding vaccinations and travel health advice can be found by following the NHS and NaTHNaC links at http://www.explore.co.uk/Travelhealth/ and from your local healthcare provider.

Peru

Nothing compulsory, we recommend protection against malaria, typhoid, tetanus, polio and hepatitis A.
Please consult your travel clinic for the latest advice on Malaria, Dengue and Zika Virus.
Please take preventative measures to avoid mosquito bites - these include mosquito repellent as well as long trousers and long sleeve shirts to cover up when necessary.
We recommend protection against yellow fever. There have been very few cases reported, but local authorities do recommend travellers get
immunised against yellow fever.
The above is not an exhaustive list. Further information regarding vaccinations and travel health advice can be found by following the NHS and NaTHNaC links at http://www.explore.co.uk/Travelhealth/ and from your local healthcare provider.

Climate

Bolivia

Conditions vary from region to region and with altitude. Bear in mind that at high altitude temperatures can drop dramatically, and conditions can change suddenly. Inland - Hot and humid from October to March (summer). Mild to hot from April to September (winter). Highlands -- All
year, sunny days, chilly to cold evenings. Rainy December to March. Mainly dry rest of yearbest time for mountain travel.

Peru

There is a rainy season from Dec - Mar however on the coast it rarely rains. Jun-Oct is damp and misty, but temperatures never drop below 10°C. At high altitudes although there are sunny days temperatures can drop dramatically, and conditions can change suddenly.

Altitude Description

As this tour reaches altitudes over 3800 meters, we strongly recommend that travellers with heart or lung conditions, anaemia, asthma, high blood pressure or on the pill should seek the advice of their GP.
You must have adequate travel insurance for your trip. Please ensure that your insurance policy covers you to the maximum altitude indicated above. If you have Explore insurance you will be covered to this altitude.

Water Bottle:
Water along the trail must never be considered as drinkable. The camp staff provide purified water each day with which to fill your own bottle. 1 litre is the minimum size suitable. Disposable plastic bottles are not allowed on the trail. It is a good idea to add some powdered fruit juice for flavouring. Please note: metal bottles can also double up as hot water bottles.

Torch/Batteries/Bulb:
A small torch is essential for finding things in your tent, visiting the 'toilet' in the night etc. Often a head torch is the most practical option as it allows you to have both hands free. Remember that in most developing countries only a limited selection of batteries is available. The most common are pen cells (or AA size) and SP/HP2 (D size).

Personal First Aid Kit:
On each trek a first aid kit is carried but you should have your own blister kit, supply of plasters, aspirin etc. (Please do not give medicines to local people without consulting the Trek Leader).

For your jungle experience bring:
Suncream, sunhat and sunglasses
Jungle formula insect repellent
Good torch and spare batteries for night walks and when the generator is not on.
Small backpack for walks and boat trips
Good camera with zoom, spare battery and memory cards
Binoculars (optional)

Footwear

For you jungle experience:
Bring comfortable enclosed walking shoes that can cope with mud if needed.

Clothing

The highlands of Bolivia have dry sunny days but extremely cold nights so thermal underwear, a well-insulated fleece/jacket and a thick sweater are essential. Bring a warm hat and gloves as the Island of the Sun can be especially cold during June and July. Bring something warm to sleep in. A light raincoat is recommended. A sun hat and sunglasses are advisable as is high factor sunscreen, due to the thinness of the atmosphere. Bring a swimming costume for the thermal baths at Aguas Calientes.

For you jungle extension:
Expect warm and humid conditions. However there may also be heavy rain showers. (It tends to be cooler and drier between May and October, the winter)

Bring light clothing (cotton or wicking material) - Long sleeve shirts and long trousers are best when walking through jungle, and a light weight rainjacket. It is worth also bringing some warmer clothes, particularly between May and September, in case of cool weather.

Luggage: On Tour

One main piece of luggage, a good sized daypack and a small bag to contain clothing for the two nights at Lake Titicaca (your main luggage will be stored in Copacabana). Whilst trekking, our luggage for the Inca Pilgrim Way will be carried for us, but your daypack should be large enough to carry warm and waterproof clothing as weather can be quite changeable.Remember you are expected to carry your own luggage so don't overload yourself. It is recommended you bring lockable bags.

In the Amazon your main luggage will be stored in the offices in Puerto Maldonado. You will need a strong bag suitable for carrying clothes, toiletries, shoes, etc for four days e.g. a waterproof duffle bag or rucksack.

Luggage

Electric Supply & Plugs

Bolivia

Peru

We’ve been creating award-winning pioneering adventure holidays for over 30 years, earning the trust of thousands of delighted customers, who feel safe in our hands. Our tour leaders have expert local knowledge and our tours are designed to take you off the beaten track to see the most exotic, inspiring and dramatic places in the world.

Responsible travel is and always has been one the driving principles of Explore.

Our adventure holidays are full of exciting things to see and do, exploring in small groups travelling by bus, boat, plane, rickshaw, camel, or any number of unusual forms of transport. Often you will stay in family run hotels and village houses and enjoy authentic local cuisine. In this way, it’s easy to discover the true heart of the people and the place you travel to – and make some new friends along the way. Each tour is uniquely different, so please feel free to browse through our tours to see what may whet your appetite.

Cool Earth

Explore are proud to support Cool Earth in their effort to reduce global carbon dioxide levels through the prevention of deforestation in the South America rainforest. Cool Earth focus on areas in immediate danger of deforestation, supporting local communities to be forest guardians. To date 350,000 acres of rainforest has been protected. Saving rainforest also protects rare animals and plants, allows local forest communities to maintain their way of life, and protects a major source of oxygen and fresh water. When you travel on an Explore holiday we make a donation to Cool Earth that exceeds the impact of our customers flights each year.

Earth Matters

We are passionate about sustainable travel and work hard to create tours where your holiday delivers real benefits to the local communities. We minimise our impact by travelling in small groups, respecting local cultures, reducing waste and offsetting 100% of the CO2 from our flights.

When you travel with Explore, you are directly contributing to local economies and helping empower the people you meet. We currently support a range of charities and good causes, including: Toilet Twinning (helping to flush away poverty), Lone Buffalo Foundation (a community project based in Laos providing creative skills for young people) and have recently supported women’s cooperatives in Borneo and Morocco. We are a member of Tourism Concern’s Ethical Tour Operator Group (www.tourismconcern.org.uk) and support their campaign for fair and ethical tourism. We also care passionately about the world’s wildlife and actively support and promote the Born Free Organisation and Mahouts Elephant Foundation.

Know before you go

We strongly recommend that you check your government's travel advisory for up-to-date information and advice about your destination: safety and security, entry requirements, health, local laws and customs. For UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office Advice follow the link at www.explore.co.uk/travel-safety

Peace of mind - book with confidence

You can book your Explore holiday with confidence, as all monies paid to us for your trip are fully protected. Explore is a fully bonded tour operator licensed by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and by ABTOT.

The air holiday packages (Tours including flights) that we advertise are ATOL protected, since we hold an Air Travel Organiser's LicenceÂ granted by the Civil Aviation Authority.Â Our ATOL number is ATOL 2595. In addition, As a member of the Association of Bonded Travel Organisers Trust Limited (ABTOT), Explore has provided a bond to meet the requirements of the Package Travel, Package Holidays and Package Tours Regulations 1992. Please note that packages booked outside the UK are only protected when purchased directly with Explore.

Reserving your place

To reserve your place on this tour you will need to check availability on the Explore website or through our dedicated call centre based in the UK where you can. Our tours can fill up quickly so you are advised to book as early as possible. If your chosen date is ‘Available’ or ‘Guaranteed’ we will be able to provisionally hold you a space for up to 48 hours.

For Self-Guided holidays and Private Journeys simply choose your date of travel and let us know so we can confirm all ground services.

The easiest way to confirm your booking is through our website. When you are ready to book, we normally require a 10% non-refundable deposit, but for some holidays this may be more to cover such items as permit fees, internal flights or other non-refundable services. If your travel starts within 60 days of booking, full payment will be required at the time of booking

100% No Surcharge Guarantee

The price paid for our holidays is no longer subject to change. Once booked and confirmed we will guarantee the price you pay will not increase, whatever the circumstances. You will not be approached to pay fuel surcharges unlike the vast majority of other adventure tour operators. The price guarantee applies to all new bookings departing between 1st January 2016 and 31st December 2017.